NASA inspector general assesses agency’s management of moon lander risk

NASA is working to reduce the risks of upcoming Artemis moon missions, but there are "gaps" in the agency's approach, including in planned tests of some critical lander systems, the agency's Office of Inspector General said in a report released Tuesday.

The OIG also noted that, like the Apollo landing missions more than 50 years ago, if Artemis astronauts "encounter a life-threatening emergency in space or on the lunar surface, NASA does not have the capability to rescue the stranded crew.

The OIG said that while NASA is working to "mitigate and prevent hazards" associated with lunar landers being built by SpaceX and Blue Origin, "there are currently gaps in the agency's approach, including in its testing posture and crew survival analyses," including what might happen after a catastrophic but non-fatal event.